New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-23
HONORABLE SERVICE GOES FOR M OGH1
DEMOCRATS MUST HAVE THE PLACES, NO MATTER
WHO FALLS

There was good deal OF comment yesterday in regard
to the dismissal Of General George Won
Setback from the position he had held
for nincieen years as an inspector of customs
a this port The echoes Of the rebel guns fired against
Fort Sumter reached George Won Setback when he was
basking in the favor of the Court OF Berlin dashing
young officer OF the Prusslan army. He had been edu
Gated In the first military schools and attained the rank
OF MAJOR and had attracted the personal attention Of the
King Ills future would seemingly be best assured by
remaining in his native country but he decided without
hestancy to cast his lot with America and at sent in
his resignation a Prussian officer
without waiting 10 hear whether 1t accepted or not
Won Setback took The shortest route Liverpool and sailed
for. New-York. Arriving here he Joined the 7th
New-fork and served with bravery and fidelity
throughout the His command from first to last
In the Army OF the Potomac, principally In the Second
Corps under Generals Sumner and Hancock. He was
promoted times until he reached rank OF colonel
and was breveed by the President and confirmed by the
senatea Brgader General for gallant and mert0rous
services General Setback seriously wounded at
Fredericksburg and again at the Battle Of the Wilderness
but returned to the field his wounds were
sufficiently healed 10 permit him again 10 mount his horse.
In 1866 General Setback appointed inspector
OF customs on the change OF Administration In 1885 Cen
era Hancock wrote letter bearing testimony 70 his splen
did record soldier during the and especially
questng that he should be retained In the customs service
No charge OF dereilcUn OF duty made against
General Won Setback during his nineteen years service
an inspector until about three weeks when seizure
made of hatters materials in the baggage Of A.
Smmerding, passenger OF the Bremen
II was found that smmerding had been making yearly
trips across the water for the four five and
when the Custom House officials suggested 10 him that
he might save himself from prosecution by cOnfessing
and by giving away those who had aided him in de-
faudng the Government, he made confession" He
said that he had been doing this sort OF business every
year and each time had paid money in
spectors In 1884 he had succeeded in smuggling some
mateIias worth $50 FOR hat making and had given the
inspector who passed II package containing s23 less
Examination proved that the inspector who had examined
and passed Simmerdn2s baggage In 1884 General
Sehae but on the Generals part II was shon that the
,egardng simmeIdnss operations that they detained the
baggage and reeNamned It thoroughly after Gem
era Setback had passed IL, and found dutiable
goods In addition 10 this General Setback denied
positively Smmordings allegation 10 his receiving
package OF money any thing OF value from him.
But the Generals denial and his long and honorable
record both military and civil went for nothing. and al
though the only evidence against him Smmerdlngs
unsupported statement SURVEYOR Beattio recommended
his removal In which recommendation Secretary Pairchd
with all the facts before him. concurrcd During the eX-
animation of the by the Surveyor the General adj
mted that he was and always had been Republican,
although his activity consisted wholly I'm general
elections His friends think this excellent for
thu Civil Service rcfOrmos They that t Is evident
that had the General been Democrat notice whatever
would have been taken Of the uncorioborated charges
against him.